Car rides?

[neffjohn]

I have seat belt harnesses dor savannah and bodhi. savannah moans for a while once we get going(she will not sit or lay down, she stood for the entire 3hr car ride to my parents for christmas) bodhi screams fro a while but then passes out , doesnt scream as much when i am going a consistent speed.
both are good overall

[sharronhurlbut]

I found that my dogs love the car, but did jump around. Once I stared taking them about a mile down the road, leashing them up, and letting them walk and empty…yes, even if I walked them before the drive, there is always "production"! it makes them feel more comfortable and they settle right down.
I think the excitement of going in the car, makes their bowel work, and they get "jumpy" about messing in the car..
This is just what works for me!

[Quercus]

@sharronhurlbut:

I found that my dogs love the car, but did jump around. Once I stared taking them about a mile down the road, leashing them up, and letting them walk and empty…yes, even if I walked them before the drive, there is always "production"! it makes them feel more comfortable and they settle right down.
I think the excitement of going in the car, makes their bowel work, and they get "jumpy" about messing in the car..
This is just what works for me!

That is a great idea Sharron! I had never thought of that. I will suggest it to my clients that have nervous car dogs too.

[lvoss]

@Quercus:

Ditto…exactly for Querk He also has a speed limit...if we are going over 35mph, he is quiet...below that he screams or whines...for about 5-10 minutes

Mine too. They usually settle down quite nicely once we are on the freeway or a road where we can drive without much stop and go.

[RockysWoman]

Body harness… best investment. Althought, for some B's (the nervous enllies that they are) a crate is best. I know Rocky get's nervous at the sight of motorcycles and large semi's on the road. So sometimes it is best to block the view. They'll never know what they are missing.

[wizard]

I can't crate EL D (the previous owner screwed that up and EL D won't go anywhere near a crate now) so I'm looking at the harness types.
Here's one I found that attaches to the seat belt so I don't see how a dog could get tangle up - http://homeandkennel.petedge.com/Guardian-Gear-Dog-Safety-Harnesses-ZW612.pro?parentCategoryId=194&categoryId=224&subCategoryId=402

• I just got the DrsFoster&Smith catalog and they have one also (it's not on their website however).

[Ninabeana26]

This is the one I bought:

http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/product1.asp?pf_id=1079702

& I can tell you right now, Dallas gets himself so twisted up I have ultimately decided it was a COMPLETE waste of money. I guess it's a good thing it only cost me $15. The other day just connected his leash to the truck clip [where the back seats fold down] then put the back seats back up so he could only move around in the back seat. That seemed to work better than the harness but with that way I wish he had a little less capable movement as I do fear the results if we were to have a crash.

[Ninabeana26]

The Guardian gear kind of looks like it would be MUCH more efficient & actually looks like what I did with the leash last time but allows less moveable space…plus it hooks to the harness vs. me attaching his leash to the collar. Thanks wizard! I think I'm going to have to find this one...

[tah1212]

We have been going through some of the same things with Rocco. We have him crated in the car. The first few rides were AWFULL. Now that we have been going out more often he has gotten better. Still whines and turns his back on us in protest if we look at him, but he is getting over it. Getting him tired before has helped as well.

[WBL]

I use one similar to what wizard posted, I love it and it works great. Tiggy is great in the car, and the most he does when he decides to wander is stand with front feet on the middle console, he does know "get in the back" and stays there most of the time. The only time he comes all the way up (even when we stop and/or get out) is when invited/told he can. Well I take that back, for some reason when we pull into the garage Tiggy always tries (and has succeeded) to sit in my husbands lap while he parks; it is the only time he has ever does this.

But I really use the seat belt almost all the time, because even though he's good about staying in the back, he doesn't lay down right away and will look out the windows or out the back which means he puts his front feet up. With that if I were to have to make a quick stop he'd most likely end up in the front or hurting himself more because he's not secured as well. For Reggie, I usually only use his if we are going to be on the highway. Maybe I should use it more, but Reggie gets in and lays down right away, if he does sit up to look out he's leaned back against the seat and sitting, he very rarely stands up.